06/28/2002

Strawberry Plasticulture Offers Sweet Rewards

Writer:

Melissa Karcher
karcher.19@osu.edu
(614)292-2011

Source:

Brad Bergefurd
bergefurd.1@osu.edu

PIKETON, Ohio-Excess rainfall this spring worked to the disadvantage of
many Ohio farmers, with the exception of a few unique strawberry producers.
Despite the rain, strawberry research plots at the Ohio State University
Extension South Centers sat high and dry on a bed of plastic mulch, said
Brad Bergefurd, an Ohio State Extension horticulture agent.

"Plasticulture production may be a good option for Ohio strawberry growers
to increase their yields on small-acreage farms," Bergefurd said. Ohio
State researchers have been working with North Carolina extension agents
and specialists to test plasticulture methods for strawberries, which
produce earlier and higher, more consistent yields for North Carolina
growers.

"If we can get strawberries to harvest two to three weeks earlier, that
will get farmers in the markets earlier and possibly increase their
income," Bergefurd said. "The potential is there to double yields on a more
consistent basis than with the matted row system."

The plasticulture method could increase the typical 5,000 to 6,000 pounds
per acre to 10,000 to 12,000. At this point, the smallest yield for the
research trials was 11,000 pounds per acre, Bergefurd said. "The work done
so far looks really promising, but we only have one year under our belt and
a long way to go," he said.

Traditionally, most Ohio-grown strawberries are bare-root plants planted in
matted rows in the spring. In plasticulture, soil is mounded into
10-inch-high mounds and covered with a sheet of black, plastic mulch,
Bergefurd said. Strawberry plant plugs are then planted in September
through the mulch into the underlying mounds of soil.

Plants raised in plasticulture usually experience fewer disease problems
from standing water and flooding problems because the water rests in
between the mounds or rows, Bergefurd said. At the same time, the sheet of
mulch conserves moisture, reduces weed growth by blocking out the sun and
keeps the strawberries cleaner by keeping them out of the mud.

The black mulch also absorbs heat so that the soil stays warmer to increase
plant growth, Bergefurd said. Heat absorption warms the soil earlier in the
spring and later in the fall, benefiting yields. "More and more Ohio
vegetables growers, especially fresh market, are using black plastic mulch
because of its benefits," he said.

"The biggest drawback in plasticulture is the cost," Bergefurd said. "Over
$10,000 an acre is invested in plasticulture strawberries before you ever
pick your first strawberry. In addition, another $3,000 is needed to take
the crop through harvest." These costs, figured by North Carolina agents
and specialists, include every expense from a computer to Internet
connection to a mulcher.

The plasticulture strawberry growers in North Carolina replant every season
to maintain high yields. Ohio matted row growers typically replant every
three to four years, Bergefurd said. Despite the annual $10,000-per-acre
investment, the higher, more consistent yields in plasticulture
strawberries result in more income for growers than matted row acres.

Ohio State researchers are comparing notes with Maryland researchers on a
two-year system that could eventually be an option. "If we could use a
two-year system, it would stretch the $10,000 over a longer time period,"
he said.

Currently, only a few growers have made the switch to plasticulture, which
is more commonly used in vegetable production, Bergefurd said. "I could see
matted row growers planting an acre or two of plasticulture strawberries to
kick off their season earlier and stretch their income a little longer."

"If this system takes off, we could start a whole other business,"
Bergefurd said. "The new system would hit greenhouses when they're not
busy, allowing them to produce the strawberry plant plugs needed by the
growers, so it will give them a whole new market. And earlier harvested
strawberries would also allow growers to begin marketing Ohio strawberries
as early as Mother's Day, which could produce an earlier income for
farmers."


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Note to Editor: The below sidebar can be used in addition to the above story.

Piketon Researchers Cover Plasticulture Strawberry Methods

Source: Brad Bergefurd

PIKETON, Ohio-Research at the Ohio State University South Centers is
looking to improve Ohio's strawberry production through new plasticulture
methods. Ohio State researchers are taking notes on North Carolina's
plasticulture strawberries, which consistently produce higher yields and
berries earlier in the season.

* Plasticulture strawberries are planted in September as compared to the
traditional March-to-May planting schedule followed by matted row growers,
Bergefurd said. However, Ohio State researchers are still trying to find
the "magical planting date" for plasticulture plants in September.

The "magical date" is important for planting because depending on the date
planted, some plants set runners instead of budding, which results in bushy
plants and little produce, Bergefurd said. Ohio's appropriate date for
planting differs from North Carolina because of the differences in climate.

* Researchers also compared varieties to find the most suitable for Ohio's
climate, Bergefurd said. Chandler-a desirable California variety-was among
those tested because it does not go dormant like most Ohio varieties, but
grows into the winter months.

"Chandlers made it last winter, but that was not the best winter to put
them to the test," Bergefurd said. "By doing different variety trials with
western and eastern varieties, we hope to get good variety recommendations
for interested farmers."

* Along with planting dates and varieties, different types of floating row
covers were tested to find the best protection from frost, freezing and
winter conditions. The covers, which are made out of a spunbounded,
plastic-type fiber, differ in weight and thickness, affecting the amount of
sunlight received by the plants, Bergefurd said. Straw also was tested but
did not fare well with this winter's warm weather.